Rubio Eulogizes Tiananmen Protesters as Tariffs Test Ties

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised pro-democracy protesters who were killed in Beijing’s bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown 36 years ago, carrying on Washington’s criticism of China’s human rights record as tariff disputes further test already frayed ties.

“Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4, 1989,” Rubio said in a statement on Tuesday.